Sterilizing and shaking machine.



R. R. ROGER".

STERILIZING AND SHAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

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WITNESSES ze: $66 g 0% @04/1/ R. R. ROGBRSJ 'STERILIZING AND SHAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

Patented Dec.5,1911.

IN VEN TOR Rammm R. R0 I ERS Ramon]: n. ROGERS, or person, MICHIGAN.

'' 'STERILIZING- AND SHAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 22, 1908. Serial No. 449,778."

PatentcdDec.5, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND R. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne .and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in sterilizing and Shaking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. A

In the process of preparing condensed milk for market it is usual, as a final step,

to sterilize the canned product by subjecting it to ahigh heat for a'short period. It is necessary that the contents of each can be evenly heated throughout and that provision be made to'prevent over-heating and caking or lumping of the outer portions of the contents of the cans. Furthermore, in reducing the temperature to normal, it is necessary that the cooling be as uniform as is the heating, for otherwise portionswould be held at high heat too long and become injured thereby. It is further desirable that the goods be treated in as large quantities as possible. i

This invention relates to an apparatus for sterilizing canned goods, such as condensed milk or the like, arranged for heating a large number of cans or packages simultaneously, and more especially to means for uniformly heating and cooling the contents of the cans, and for preventing any over-heating, caking or lumping during the process.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an apparatus embodying features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in detailof a can rack. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section on or about line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view partly in section on line :v-a: of Fig. 1, and part in section on line y-g of Fig. 1.

In thedrawings, a casing horizontal cylinder or drum having one end perma ently closed by an end wall 2 or head, and the other end provided with removable head 3 detachably secured by suitable means,

as. for example, clamping boltset engaging a flange 5 and peripheral notches in the head. is supported on pedestals 6 or the like.

1 preferably a.

A suitable steam inlet pipe 7 through the bottom of the shell discharges into a horizontal perforated pipe 8 that extends longitudinally of the drum with closed extremities, the apertures 9 being preferably disposed to direct the steam laterally and downwardly only; a water pipe 10 with horizontal T 11 discharging longitudinally of the drum, is secured centrally in the-top of the drum. A'perfor'ated plate 12 is sup ported horizontally below the water inlet by suitable cross-bars 13 near each end of the drum, and acts as a distributer for water flowing from the T, the bars 13 being.preferably angle irons whose upturned'fianges 14 act as ledges to arrestthe water. A drain pipe 15 is centrally located in the lower part of the shell. I

A carrier 16 is reciprocably mounted below the distributing plate on any suitable track or guideway, which, in its preferred form, consists of a series of horizontal alined rollers 17 journaled in properly designed bearing brackets 18 on the interior of the shell. As herein shown, the carrier consists-of a sheet metal plate with upturned parallel ends 19, perforations 20 in the body being provided to allow free cir culation around the contents of the carrier. Stay rods 21 connect the ends and are detachably secured thereto, as by brackets 22 having lugs 23 between which end plates 24;

on the rods are retained by cross-pins 25 or the like.

An upright presser plate 26 is adjustably secured in the carrier bv hand-screws 27 engaging bosses-28 in the carrier end, and spiders 29 on the presser, or by other suitable means, whereby it may exert endwise pressure on and force tiers of cans held in suitable upright racks 30 against the oppo: site carrier end plate. The racks are preferably made with angle iron frames with diagonal spacing wires 31 forming meshes each adapted to receive a can. other stifiening cross-bars 32 being used if desired. The parts are so disposed that when the carrier is filled with loaded racks and the presser plate set up by the hand-screws the cans abut so that they form substantially cnntinunus cylinders in spaced relation extending from the end plate to the presser.

with the drum 1 on a pedestal by stud bolts 36 or the like, and is provided with a A cylinihu' 34'is held in axial alinement piston 37 and a valve 38 adapted to automatically reeiprocate'when compressed air or steam is admitted thereto, the ports and passages being disposed to obtain this result in the conventional manner of steam pumps-or the like, the details of construction and operation not being herein de scribed as the mechanism is not, per se, a part of this invention. The piston is secured in .proper manneron a hollow shaft 39, which extends through packing glands 40 on the cylinder head, and through a stufiing box 41 in the end wall 2 of the drum, and is removably held against a boss 43 on the carrier by a solid rod 44 screwed into the boss or otherwise rigidly fastened thereto, that extends througlrthe shaft and is held by a nut 45 on itsouter end. By this arrangement, the carriage may be either withdrawn or coupled to the operating means without entering the drum or disturbingjthe packing or stutiing glands. 3

While the form of carrier reciprocating means herein shown is preferable, any suitable means may be used for this purpose.

In operation, the carrier is loaded with filled trays and the cans clamped thereon. The carrier is then slid into the casing and connected with the operating means; The casing is closed, and steam under pressure admitted, the distributing pipe with its lateral opening directing the steam against the shell walls so that it circulates freely around the drum and through the tiers of cans .which are being reciproeated with the carrier. This endwise shaking movement.

prevents any caking or lumping in the cans, and agitates'the contents ofeach so that it becomes evenly heated. After being held at the desired temperature for the necessary period of time, water is injected, the perforated shield distributing it evenly over the carrier and cans whose agitation is continued'until the can contents is properly cooled. The carrier is then removed from the shell and unloaded. By this means, the contents of each can is evenly heated and cooled throughout and cannot cake or become lumpy. Furthermore, the peculiar elamping arrangement not only provides for even distribution of steam between-the cans, but also prevents any rattling of the packages and consequent denting or battering and a between the plate ends, hand-screws adapted to adj ust-ably secure the presser' plate, and racks adapted to be inserted between the presser plate and carrier end, and provided with spacing members adapted to hold cans therein in spaced relation said presserplale being adapted to hold the tiers of cans of a series of inserted racks in abutting relation against theopposing carrier end. I

2. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a casing closed at one end, a head detacl' ablv secured on the other end, a guide way in the casing. a can carrier on the guideway removable through the opened end of the casing consisting of a horizontal perforated plate with upturiled-parallel ends, detachable stay-rods connecting the upper margins of the plate ends, an upright'presser plate betweenthe plate ends, hand screws adapted to adjustably secure the presser plate, racks adapted to be inserted between the prcsser plate and carrier'- end, and provided with spacing members adapted to hold cans therein in spaced relation, said presser plate being adapted to hold the tiers of cans of a series of inserted racks in abutting relation against the opposing carrier end, a water pipe opening into the top of the easing over the carrier, at distributing plate between the pipe mouth and carrier, a steam pipe in the casing having a distributing member extending below the casing, and means for reciprocating the carrier.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND n. nodules.

Witnesses C. R. S'rIeKNnY,

A. M. Donn. 

